The Ulysses spacecraft studies the Sun. Click on image for full size (10K GIF) Image courtesy NASA.

Scientists combine various techniques to study space weather. Earth-based and orbiting telescopes constantly observe the Sun in many different wavelengths. Both satellites and ground-based instruments contribute readings from instruments of space weather features such as particle densities, magnetic field strengths, and radiation intensities. Scientists develop complex mathematical models based on the laws of physics to predict behaviors of space weather systems. Space physicists have also developed metrics, such as sunspot counts, to quantitatively describe variations in space weather.

Because of the complexity of space weather systems, scientists often use models to try to understand and predict the systems. Some models describe the Sun, others interplanetary space, and still others cover the Earth's magnetosphere or its upper atmosphere. Sophisticated computer software crunches the numbers generated by these models so scientists can compare their predictions with observed events.

The Ulysses spacecraft studies the Sun. Click on image for full size (10K GIF) Image courtesy NASA.

Scientists combine various techniques to study space weather. Earth-based and orbiting telescopes constantly observe the Sun in many different wavelengths. Both satellites and ground-based instruments contribute readings from instruments of space weather features such as particle densities, magnetic field strengths, and radiation intensities. Scientists develop complex mathematical models based on the laws of physics to predict behaviors of space weather systems. Space physicists have also developed metrics, such as sunspot counts, to quantitatively describe variations in space weather.

Because of the complexity of space weather systems, scientists often use models to try to understand and predict the systems. Some models describe the Sun, others interplanetary space, and still others cover the Earth's magnetosphere or its upper atmosphere. Sophisticated computer software crunches the numbers generated by these models so scientists can compare their predictions with observed events.

The Ulysses spacecraft studies the Sun. Click on image for full size (10K GIF) Image courtesy NASA.

Scientists use different ways to study space weather. They use instruments in space like satellites and orbiting telescopes. Scientists also use instruments on Earth to study space weather. They use these instruments to study the Sun, the magnetic field out in space (IMF) and the Earth.

Once scientists get readings from their instruments, they use models to make sense of all of the readings. Space weather models are complex and are often done on super fast computers.